Dan Fine

Blessed with a stubborn streak, an incurable curiosity, and the inability to take 'no' for an answer, it was widely assumed I’d either end up inventing things that no one asked for… or breaking the Internet entirely. In 1994, I did the former by founding fine.com — the first company ever allowed to be called a dot com. At the time, most people thought the Internet was AOL - you got mail. I thought maybe, just maybe, it could change the world. Turns out, cat memes rule the Web. Not satisfied with one revolution, in 2001 I founded a company that developed the technology to build Bots — intelligent agents back when “bot” still sounded like science fiction instead of “that thing that keeps trying to sell you sunglasses on Twitter.” We even received a patent for it. Along the way, I: Ran a company that landed on Inc.’s List of Fastest Growing Companies in America nine years in a row (only 21 companies in history have pulled that off). Took a company public on NASDAQ (and survived the roadshow). Started six companies from scratch, because sleep is overrated. Orchestrated 12 M&A transactions (translation: I’ve negotiated more term sheets than I’ve had Michelin dinners). Built a reputation for spotting trends before they were obvious — which makes me look visionary now, but at the time made me look slightly unhinged. Oh, and that company that made the Inc. List nine times? It probably would have gone for ten, but Encore acquired us. Honestly, there are worse reasons to miss out on a record. I’ve been called an entrepreneur, an inventor, a leader, and on more than one occasion, “relentlessly persistent.” What I’m truly passionate about is technology, helping others, and making improvements wherever I can. At this stage, I’m less interested in building the next big thing just to prove it can be done — and more interested in building things that matter. If you skim my career, you’ll see a mix of invention, strategy, and sheer tenacity. If you meet me in person, you’ll see someone who still believes the best ideas start with curiosity… and a good cup of coffee.